The cover of the next big country album.
Members of the Hartbeat Herd (or is it Hartbeat Heard?) have read in previous blogs about a musically talented young man from Louisiana who has captured the interest of millions of YouTube viewers. James Dupré has posted over 100 videos of himself singing and strumming at home in front of his webcam. His cover versions of songs by Vince Gill, John Anderson, Merle Haggard, Ben E. King and many others have begged the question: When will he have a CD of his own and break into the world of music?
The wait is over. Entitled, it's all happening, Dupré's recording was released at the end of February, I have a copy and it's great! No sugar coating is needed from me for this collection. It is well-produced and reflects an excellent variety of well-written songs and fine musicianship. That uniquely rich voice we heard from his home is even better in a studio setting.
This Hartbeat is a departure from most of the others in that it's just about the music; there are no television news secrets revealed. We won't examine every song under the magnifying glass (ear) or why it has elements making it a choice for what Hartbeat Correspondent Eli Hart (who introduced me to James Dupré on YouTube) deems definitely good enough for a "radio song." Instead, we will highlight three of our favorite selections that should make it all happen for James Dupré.
It was light on her finger, now it's heavy on his heart
The first tune, Ring on the Bar has all of the classic elements of a memorable country song: the bar, neon lights, a woman leaving her man, hurt feelings, packing up the car and a double meaning to the word ring. Yet, this excellent song is no cliché. It's no surprise that Ring on the Bar was co-written by Brent Baxter who wrote Alan Jackson's hit, Monday Morning Church. Byron Hill, the other co-writer, has written music and lyrics for songs for some of the great ones: George Jones, Reba McEntire, Brooks and Dunn and Randy Travis.
Well Dupré has a distinctive voice, comparisons between his sound and that of Randy Travis are inevitable. There are other similarities. Kyle Lehning, co-producer of it's all happening produced all but three hit albums for Randy Travis. Lehning also plays keyboards on the Dupré album. Co-producer Jerry Douglas has played dobro and lap steel on hundreds of albums and is a key member of Alison Kraus and Union Station. His playing on it's all happening is outstanding. As producers, Lehning and Douglas bring out the best in the talents of James Dupré.
The bright lights from the kitchen didn't bother him much
Postcard from Elvis is my second choice for a single from the album.
The idea of long-departed celebrities corresponding with you about their lives out of the limelight is thought provoking. The chorus makes us wonder about the lives of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean if they had come closer to the "heart of the matter." Micheal Smotherman, a co-writer of the song, has written others for Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings, Trace Adkins and more. James Dupré sings about his "old friends" in Postcard from Elvis with conviction and feeling...just like the King would have.
Everything that I would do he'd always be one step behind
The millions of views and listens that James Dupré gathered on YouTube were from singing tunes written by others. It is fitting that on his debut album that features fine songwriting by some of Nashville's most prolific writers, Dupré closes it's all happening with two of his own compositions. A Hero in My Eyes reminds me of He Walked on Water, the hit from the Randy Travis album, No Holding Back (which yielded three top ten songs for Travis) and Brotherly Love the duet by Keith Whitley( I hear the influence of Whitley in Dupré's music) and Earl Thomas Conley. James Dupré's lyrics tell an authentically moving story about his younger brother, their friendship, love and how each is a hero to the other.
Back in Eunice, LA (home of the Cajun Music Hall of Fame), Dupré is known husband, dad and EMT. Could he also be the emerging father of a new wave of neo-classical country music? Can he help save country music from descending into mere commercial-sounding mediocrity? You decide.
Learn more about this up and coming artist and hear samples of songs on it's all happening by clicking here. Please let me know what you think.
The Hartbeat goes on...
What's cooking on the Hartbeat Grill?
In the quest for finding talent that just needs a break, I put out a request for ideas to the Hartbeat staff. Los Angeles Hartbeat Correspondent Lloyd Mc Cloud sent me information about a St. Louis soul artist named Wendell B. Wendell B.'s web site bio lists his influences as Luther Vandross, Barry White and Freddie Jackson. He spent time in the Twin Cites, so there is the Prince and a Flyte Time sound in his music. I would say it is 70's soul meets the Minneapolis sound. Check him out by clicking here.
The Musical Notes
This time the subheads for each section are lines from James Dupré's featured songs. And, as mentioned, this entire Hartbeat is a musical note.
The Photo Credits
The cover of it's all happening includes photography by Tabatha Semien, and artwork by Kristen Dupré, Tabatha Semien and James Dupré.
(Copyright 2010 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)